a memorable fancy, plates 22-24

once i saw a devil in a flame of fire

who arose before an angel that sat on a cloud

and the devil utter'd these words

the worship of god is

honouring his gifts in other men each according to his genius

and loving the greatest men best; those who envy or calumniate great men hate god

for there is no other god

the angel hearing this became almost blue

but mastering himself he grew yellow

and at last white pink and smiling

and then replied

thou idolater

is not god one? and is not he visible in jesus christ?

and has not jesus christ given his sanction to the law often commandments

and are not all other men fools

sinners

and nothings?

the devil answer'd: bray a fool in a morter with wheat

yet shall not his folly be beaten out of him; if jesus christ is the greatest man

you ought to love him in the greatest degree; now hear how he has given his sanction to the law of ten commandments: did he not mock at the sabbath

and so mock the sabbaths god? murder those who were murder'd because of him? turn away the law from the woman taken in adultery? steal the labor of others to support him? bear false witness when he omitted making a defence before pilate? covet when he pray'd for his disciples

and when he bid them shake off the dust of their feet against such as refused to lodge them? i tell you

no virtue can exist without breaking these ten commandments; jesus was all virtue

and acted from impulse

not from rules

when he had so spoken: i beheld the angel who stretched out his arms embracing the flame of fire

and he was consumed and arose as elijah

note: this angel

who is now become a devil

is my particular friend

we often read the bible together in its infernal or diabolical sense which the world shall have if they behave well

i have also: the bible of hell: which the world shall have whether they will or no

one law for the lion and ox is oppression